Experts advise on capacity building

Environmental experts have canvassed the need to build capacity to respond and mitigate the impact of natural disasters such as flooding in Nigeria.

The experts who spoke on ‘The economic impact of natural isasters’ at an event organised by Greenspring Group in partnership with the School of Media and Communication (SMC), Pan African University, Lagos, argued that man cannot stop natural disasters, but he can, however, mitigate their impact.

President, Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN), Ibikunle Ogunbayo, pointed out that the 10 River Basin Authorities in Nigeria are meant to manage river flows in their areas of influence, noting that the recent flood disaster in the country which submerged many communities showed that the authorities lacked the capacity to do their work.

“The River Basin Authorities should be able to know ahead when a River Niger, for instance, is about to overflow its banks; as a country, we should be able to know why the disasters are occurring; we should be able to learn from the experience of other countries,” he advised.

Director, SMC, Pan African University, Prof Emevwo Biakolo, added that Nigeria should have the scientific capacity to predict the occurrence of natural disasters.

According to him, “Since we can expect the occurrence of these disasters, there should be mechanisms in place to respond to them; we should create structures for mitigating their impact.”

Biakolo noted that there could be agencies that should be responsible for all these but asks: “How capable are they when they lack the capacity and managerial ability?”

He regretted that relevant agencies, such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) exists for purposes of formality and not for necessity, stressing that it is difficult to assess the agency correctly in the absence of adequate funding and accountability.

Managing Director of Double Q International Limited John Okodi-Iyah, said the impact of natural disasters, especially flooding, is not only economic, but also social.